White Sox Reach Deal for Carl Everett

Published 8:00 pm, Tuesday, July 1, 2003

The busy Chicago White Sox acquired outfielder Carl Everett from the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night, hours after making another trade to get Roberto Alomar.

Chicago will let the Rangers pick either two or three minor leaguers from a pool. The White Sox will also receive cash from Texas to offset part of Everett's $9.15 million contract.

"I'm going to miss these guys," Everett said after Texas lost 7-5 at Anaheim. "But unfortunately it comes down to the fact that we're not winning. You know how it goes in July."

During the afternoon, the White Sox got Alomar, a 12-time All-Star second baseman, from the New York Mets for three minor leaguers.

"We believe the acquisition of Carl, along with another switch-hitter in Robbie Alomar earlier today, really gives our batting order balance and depth," White Sox general manager Ken Williams said.

Chicago beat Minnesota 6-1 Tuesday night, knocking the Twins out of the AL Central lead. Despite being only 41-42, the White Sox are just three games behind division-leading Kansas City.

Everett is hitting .274 with 18 home runs and 51 RBIs. He did not play Tuesday night.

Everett is eligible to become a free agent after the season. He could have used his no-trade clause to block the deal to Chicago, but didn't.

"I'm going to go there and play the game I always play," he said. "I play hard and I play to win. It feels good that a team like that thinks that I'm one of the missing pieces to their team."

Williams said Everett will play center field and can also DH.

"The Rangers want to thank Carl Everett for his service to the organization and for his cooperation in helping this deal to be completed," Texas general manager John Hart said.

"This transaction will allow us to obtain some good young players who we feel can potentially help us at the big league level as we go forward," he said.

The Rangers are 32-50 and mired in last place in the AL West. They are trying to shed their older, higher-priced veterans.

Texas traded outfielder-designated hitter Ruben Sierra to the New York Yankees on June 6 for a minor leaguer. Later in the month, the Rangers reached a deal to send Juan Gonzalez to Montreal for prospects, but the slugger exercised his no-trade clause and blocked the move.

"He's a very good player. He knows how to play the game. He plays the game hard and plays to win. He's a great team guy," Texas' Rafael Palmeiro said of Everett.

"He doesn't have to make that much of an adjustment. He's staying in the American League and he's been around the league, so he knows everybody. He's just going to go in there and help that team."

Everett was in his second season with Texas. He hit .267 with 16 homers and 62 RBIs last year. He previously played for the New York Mets, Houston and Boston.

In an odd episode in April, Everett was hit in the back of the head by a cell phone that came flying out of the stands at Oakland.

Before boosting their outfield Tuesday night, the White Sox bolstered their infield by getting Alomar. They sent pitchers Royce Ring and Edwin Almonte and infielder Andrew Salvo to the Mets.